The Frankenstein Build! LT/Expo/Trail rig..and BS

Yea, turns out with the MCM kit you can run flat lower coil perches, you have to run the tapered cones. So the. 18" coils get preloaded from that.

I'd planned on flat perches but now I'll just go to a 16" 700lb. Or an 18" 650lb. Not sure yet. Still gonna see how the 18/700s do first after some real break in and my skid plate back on

 

Dude, was killer watching you guys set it up! How long was the process?
I went with KING mid travel. So far not happy with them at all, I probably need them re-valved. But for the kinda of wheeling I do, I should consider LT. Any recommendations?

 

Took about 14 hours. But I was doing lots of photos and my steering rack is not nice to get back in. So be a 12 hour job easy if you have the tools and such.

Well, I have been in a few trucks with mid travel. And when it's setup right. It's awesome! Like really good. Will allow you to go fast enough over stuff just to the point where you think....hmmm...cage would be nice...lol

I'd try revalving for sure. If you aren't going to long travel the rear then long travel up front isn't toally worth it since the rear would hold you back a lot.

Spend some time tweaking the Kings. If valved right, extended travel kings with UCAs will float over stuff very well.

That said. Long travel is awesome. But cost wise...it's a big jump. You'll need fiberglass fenders, bumps and of course a kit is around 5 grand with shocks anyways. Ha

I'd try and play a bit with what you have. Are they just valved from King? What kinda coil?

 

18" 650 FTW

 

Thats not bad, a weekend project for sure tho. So you have LT on the rear too?

So its all about the valving and I don't have UCA the people I talked to said they didn't help performance but guessing they were wrong.

I have KING 3.14.600 e14 Coil valved form King. Just rides like crap off and on road. I'm about to put a winch on will that help ride?

Cost isn't an issue I just want the best ride for the trails and offroading I do.

All be putting fiberglass fenders on soon to accommodate bigger tires.

Some of these are rookie questions, I guess we all got to start some where tho right!.. ha

 

No such thing as a rookie question...well..not this stuff anyways.

So you don't have UCAs? then you have standard travel Kings? UCAs help will alignment and if you have extended travel shocks, merit about 1.5'' more wheel travel give or take. You can easily make your current standard ones extended. Just a plastic spacer in the shock need removed and replaced with a smaller one.

Sounds like the valving is too stiff for what you want. The winch will help a bit i bet though. Do you have skids too?

If you are pretty mechanically inclined id look into taking them apart and working on the valving. You could then also do what i said earlier and make them extended travel for full mid travel up front. Don't make them extended unless you get aftermarket UCAs though! the stock ones will not be able to handle the extra travel.

I myself am about to rebuild a set of king COs. Looks like the same ones as yours. But mine are extended. Im going to put them on my double cab. I'll be doing a write up on that as well. But won't be till summer

Also do you have the sway bar still on?

Fiberglass isn't really needed for bigger tires. I'd save the money and just trim the stock. Looks better with the big ole meats anyways But if you like em go for it!

What kind of trails/offroading do you do??

I still think for a DD/Weekend warrior all around all purpose rig. Mid travel is still the way to go.

Not that you can't DD LT in a lot of ways it would be better. But gonna depend on what you do with the truck..

 

This is what I have, and sounds like I need to get the UCA. All research re-valving and making it mid travel, sounds like what i'm looking for.

I have the stock TRD skids, need to build some tho. And still have the sway bar on, been meaning to take that off.

Always liked the fiberglass look, but will see. And I have a work truck so its really just a weekend warrior.

Moab trails, logging trails. More overlanding then anything.

Even if I get to it before you all be looking forward to your right up. You never know might give me a thought and all tear it down again

BTW my wife and I are looking to move to Colorado, if i'm correct you live there.
Whats the business economy like?

 

Yea Id stay with mid travel for now.

Take the sway bar off too. That'll help a lot by itself haha

I'm actually in Wyoming for half the year and in Missouri the other half. Couldn't really say what colorados economy is..

I'd mess with the mid travel though. You can dial it in so its smooth and comfy. Trust me. I'd also try taking some preload off the springs. Judging by your sig pic the front is a bit high. Taking off preload will lower the front a bit and make the ride smoother too

 

http://www.kingshocks.com/products/parts/replacement-parts/
For when you start your rebuild king has this on there website. Really handy over view!

 

Sounds good, thanks for the advice! And all take the sway bar off asap.

Oh right on! Sounds like you got an interesting job.

I have stock leafs with a 1 1/4 inch shackle in back. About to git a new leaf kit about 2.5 lift. That should make it stink bug a little. but will level out when I'm loaded.

 

Right on

Sounds like a good game plan! Hope it turns out good!

Any time man! Glad to help.

Not really a job just school. Though my jobs are pretty cool.

 

You live down by the st Louis area right?

 

In St. Louis! Webster to be exact..so yea area. Where you at?

 

All for sure revolve, I have a free revalve from king. They will take out that shaft spacer Monte was talking about. Then UCA's If I don't like the second round all dig into them myself.

Yeah I didn't think it was the coils.

You all have some killer builds tho, been awesome seeing the mods come to life. Gets me amped to keep tweaking and moding!

 

My dad lives in the northeast corner of Missouri. Clark county. Mom lives in Quincy, il. Just 2 hours or so north of you.

Anyway I'm going to go to school at Southeast Missouri state in Capegirado,MO( about an hour south of st Louis) or however u spell it and was wondering if there is any trails or wheeling places around that area.

 

My mid travel set up is super plush after getting it dialed. Just keep working at it. I can hit 60+ on the dirt and get that Oh Shit I need a cage feeling that Monte is talking about with Mid travel. Sure I can't hit super big whoops at those speeds but It will sure hold its own.

 

Sweet!!! Good deal. Mid travel here we come!

I don't actually...I e never had time to go out and explore really. That and my double cab is not setup to go wheeling in the slightest. The stock suspension on it is so shot I practially ride on the bump stops. Gonna fix that this summer. But even so. I know nothing for wheeling around here

Haha! Yea..Marc's rig is like that haha

 

Will keep messing with it! If it does what your saying thats all I want!

What UCA did you go with?

 

2 WEEKS!!!!!!

 

Can't really go wrong with the main brand uniballs. Total chaos, camburg, MCM, icon are the ones

Heck yea!

Although...idk what I'm gonna do..was gonna spend a good 1/3rd if my time talking shit to you for not having the sc on...and you went and ruined it haha